Leagues Cup: Houston Dynamite
Bridget
0:13
Anyway, now we're back and this game was crazy. Beyond crazy. Kara, what do you think?
Kara
0:19
I don't think any of us expected this to happen the way it
Bridget
0:21
did. Yeah, I definitely didn't. Like, I was telling on you, I was on my couch and this game after the ten minutes where they scored and then it was horrible. I just wanted to crawl in a hole and then literally on the second half was like, I don't know, 1s 65 minutes gone. I was on my couch and I had my head under a cover with, like, one eyeball out, and I was, like, mentally telling myself we was going to lose this game. We were like, we're going to lose this, bridget, you're going to be cool. You're not going to get too upset. You're going to just 1s talking yourself through it. And then he put in Patrick Ojeman, and then all of a sudden Patrick scores. And I jumped up and was doing a little dancy dance and I was dancing so hard. Dancing, dancing and celebrating. I missed my own goal. So I don't know, for 60 minutes of the game, I hated life, but for that last 15, I liked it.
Kara
1:11
We know that we don't do the best ever when we are down a goal, and especially so early in the match, but the one thing about that is we know from experience, being one goal up, carrying, that the whole 90, it's a tough thing to do. And so I think that was where our opportunities and just having to shut down Houston, getting another because another, I think would have taken some more wind out of our sails, but. 1s It just being able to keep going looked better this match. Like their chances and their drive didn't lessen. They didn't lose heart when so many times before, at times, if we go one down pretty quick, we're falling apart. And like, what happened? What do we do? How do we play soccer again? Even though that's not really we know these men are talent. Did
Bridget
2:04
yeah, that's why I feel bad because we were only down by one and looking back because there's a certain commentator on the interwebs that likes to talk crap about our team, and he liked to say that we played like we just got lucky. And I watched back a little bit of the highlights and thought about it. They scored on us that first ten minutes, whatever, and then they didn't score the whole game. So maybe we didn't play like superstars or do what we had to do, but I mean, we did what we had to do, obviously, because we didn't let them score again. And it would have been easy for these guys just to be like, oops, here we go. And there was a couple of times I thought that's what was going to be like, but they didn't. They just kept going out there, playing and doing what they had to do to keep it at that, and then hope and pray that they were going to make a difference. And now every time we put Patrick in, he scores.
Kara
2:53
Don't jinx him. There
Bridget
2:54
be I guess we're going to have to just keep doing Patrick
Kara
2:57
in. Well, the other thing, too, is that it really does in this game feel like while Charlote kept up with the momentum. 1s Our finishing quality was just not there, except for Patrick. And so that feedback or that criticism is kind of fair in some ways because the own goal was complete luck benefiting us, which we haven't had very much of that. And so thank you. Own goal. I think all of us were just oh, the epitome of delighted the turn of events. And the team was too. I loved that hug right after that. So to me, that second one is credit to Bronco for at least trying to press him because we know for most of that match, houston was trying to hold on to 1s the ball as long as they could possibly until they died on it. And it was incredibly frustrating the way they would milk the time and trying to get the clock to keep running down and the ball on their end. However, our chances, while we had some, they just weren't great. And so we really need that to connect. And I really feel if that had happened and we'd gotten another goal a little more smoothly cleanly. 2s You know, then we would be able to talk about something else. And it kind of was more of Houston really mucking it up than us being definitive winners.
Bridget
4:29
That's true. But it only counts if you win or lose. We won.
Kara
4:32
Absolutely. I'm just saying it would have been better and more statement making if we had put some more actually back in the back of the nut.
Bridget
4:41
We were playing in Texas and it was hot, and we were saving our momentum for
Kara
4:46
Friday. That's what we got to hope, right? Yep.
Bridget
4:48
That's what I'm hoping anyway. You want to do your favor first, or you want me to do my favor first? I think that mine's going to be one that is normal and that everyone's expecting, so I'm giving mine to Patrick Ojemanj.
Kara
4:59
Adjuman 1s Patrick. You know, just call him when you need him. And he comes in and he does what he's got to do every single freaking time. And somebody said it was lucky that he made this shot, but it wasn't luck. And if you watched it back, he had to possess it in front of that goalie, and he turned and went a different little angle and got it around the goalie, and then he never gave up. He never gives up. That kid never gives up.
Bridget
5:24
And we need that on our we really do. And I think he literally scores every single time he comes in. He does it for us. He does it for Crown legacy. So when do we start
Kara
5:36
him? Well, part of the reason you have him doing such a great job up front is because he doesn't need to carry the match for the full 90 minutes. That's kind of tough to ask for a young player, but then when he does come in, those opportunities are there for him to be able to utilize because they're not really expecting him. And he's such a tall, fast, broad player. That skill on top of it. 1s You know, it's no wonder that he does. He surprises the opposing. You know, I think the one thing that against him, too, is, and this was wildly apparent, this match is the same foul that Bronco gets allowed for. It gets called on Patrick because Bronco's, what, five foot eight something? And maybe
Bridget
6:29
dude, maybe I'm close to his height. If he pulls 5859, we're going to be lucky. He's not that little. He's not that little. He's not much taller. Let's go with five eight. Make the dude a little tall.
Kara
6:40
But you've got like six two of Patrick Ajimong. And because they do the same thing, ajimong. Looks bigger. So they constantly accuse him of fouling. And even when he gets fouled on and it's a bit ridiculous that they don't preserve equality there in fouling. They're going to give the pass to Bronnie. You have to give that pass to Patrick. And just because he's bigger, they call it against him. And so that's kind of crappy. And one thing that it constantly dogs achimong every time he comes in, that's every game. You could just about count on them pulling some crap like that. So look to see that tomorrow. But do think that that shot takes, you know? 2s Absolute skill getting around those players concentration and quality for being able to put it in just the right spot, because we saw other players from Houston do that twice, and they didn't get it in on either of them. And so ajimong. Is able to still make that happen. I mean, that's not just luck. That is skill, that is creativity. That is him being able to position it on purpose.
Bridget
7:50
They were also happy for him after the game, too. He sat down, he almost cried, and he might have cried, but he's doing his little thing on the ground. I saw George go over there and pick him up and give him a big hug, and everybody was super excited for him. He's so humble. Who's your first favorite?
Kara
8:06
I think the man of the match, Mr. Nathan Byrne.
Bridget
8:10
Burn, baby, burn
Kara
8:12
it. This was, I think, the best game Nathan Byrne has played in a Charlote FC kit. And I might have said that last week. I realized that, but the man keeps doing better. I realized that his extra yellow card is going to keep him out of the match tomorrow night. And, man, if that's not a blow to the heart, I'm going to be probably over there. Like, I miss Nathan Byrne.
Bridget
8:35
It's sad because they shouldn't count these stupid card crap. They shouldn't get accumulation card crap in league games, but whatever.
Kara
8:43
Well, and they gave us one more than even the World Cup girls got. But either way, it's just devastating that we're not going to have him after such a match. I mean, he really just put everything out there after his yellow card, and he was like, I don't get to play the next game, so I'm going to show you why I should be here. And it was so beautiful. 1s Oh, but you know, we know that line has been really amazing, leaving goals in and coming on the inside. There's a lot of criticism to these fullbacks about how they pinch in. But Nathan Byrne has been really trying to look out for Privet and to fill that back gap, but also to shut down any chances that come down for goal that he can. And he gets a yellow card, but he still manages to get off a lot of passes into the final third. He gets some great tackles, just really memorable tackles, especially toward the end of the game. He was winning duels. He was getting fouls on him. I just can't help but love the way he's been playing for us. And it's a blow to not have him tomorrow gets messy. He should deserve to get out there.
Bridget
9:58
Yeah, he needs to be out there. I don't know who we're going to play now, but 1s he's become one of my favorite. He's grown on me because I really couldn't stand the dude at the beginning of this season. 1s He was such a thorn in my side, but he has really grown on me this season and he's become one of my favorites on the team. But it's going to be sad him not covering that outside. So I guess we're going to have to use a fool. He'll be back when we beat Miami for the next game and we'll need him for that one.
Kara
10:25
Yeah. That is the question of who we're going to see Friday night when we play Messi because we don't have Ronan yet to play that left back spot for Nathan Byrne, which I don't think will happen for the next two weeks because he's still trying to get his visa. And we know it takes a little bit for Brett to get his visa. So we've really got a hole right there at that left back of just quality and speed. And Nathan Byrne has has shown to us that his speed can't be discounted in crucial moments. But man, we're going to miss it. Yeah. I
Bridget
10:59
think we're going to have to ask Harry to step up. Harry's going to have to step up because we don't have more anymore. So you've just got Harry. You literally only have Harry.
Kara
11:08
Yep. Unless we put someone from Crown Legacy back in. But we didn't see Neely last game. Neely got left off the sub list for the Yagura.
Bridget
11:18
Yeah. But he did not play last night for Legacy. So they may be using him.
Kara
11:22
Right. That's what I'm saying. It could be an option for him to play that spot because he is fast and we know he covers really well and
Bridget
11:29
he plays good with he plays well with provid.
Kara
11:31
Yeah. And not only that, but you've also got it. The emphasis that has been placed on playing the younger players in this League's Cup tournament. We've seen that go really well. Yeah, but you don't throw him in against Massey. Here you go, buddy. 1s Welcome to the real world. I mean, it's not just Messi. It's Taylor and Cremeshi and bisquettes and Alba and I mean, it's a lot of guys who are very, very talented and so why not let Neely shoot his shot? I mean, we're not gonna we lose here, we don't get through anyway, you know, so put it all out there.
Bridget
12:07
So you have another favor?
Kara
12:09
I do. I also think Westwood had a pretty good game. I thought he had a big chance to show his leadership in this match and he had a lot of very connecting balls and into the final third. And even though I feel like the one thing he doesn't do as well is play that center defensive mid, like if he's not there because he's putting things up into the box, then there's more of a hole than when DJ plays. And so it's kind of a two edged sword there, especially this match where we really needed the quality of CDM because Houston was just able to get it in from the wing. The cutting inside from that wing was just too easy. We didn't have a midfield presence to cover it and so I felt like he had a good game with us this match and better connections, better representation and communication than he has had some of the other games previously. And so I just wanted to acknowledge that. But I think the other big person who had a great match has to be Jalen Lindsay. What do you think? I think that Westwood did good. Well, he is managing the ball better in the midfield than what he was. And I don't know if that's because he has our field any now or what's going on, but he is doing 1s a he's a feisty little guy out there too. I like I mean, other than his assist, I don't really know what he 1s you know, the assist helps a lot. Lindsay's one of those guys, you either see him or you don't out there and I just didn't see him. But I mean, he was probably doing something, just didn't notice him. He did assist though, so that's good. I saw one spot where Bender came down and was having to defend and I was like, where in the heck is Lindsay? And
Bridget
14:01
wasn't the goal on Lindsay's side too? 2s I don't know. That's my only thing with Lindsay. Like you said, he makes mistakes, but he helps. So I don't know, it's like 50 50 with him in this match. I think the errors are in my mind, less on the fullbacks themselves and more on the system and how well our opponents are. Like, let's poke holes in it. So I don't think that can be lumped on the backs of burn Lindsay being fullbacks because they're doing their job in attacking and in trying to get back and fill the spot equally. But in this match, Lindsay's chances forward really do make a big difference and they're able to get some very nice opportunities by him. Not only just the one assist, but the other one. He has a ball to Yushriak that goes to Swedarsky, who doesn't get a very good because a very awkward hit on it, trying to get in. And that's kind of her theme of how he played this match in his chances on goal. They were just all awkward. He's trying to get them in, but they just don't.
Kara
15:08
He's not given very great opportunities to work with either in space or how they hit him. I mean, Lindsay still had a very good game. It's just like, again, it's fault of the system pinching in those fullbacks and trying to spread us out wide.
Bridget
15:23
I'll go with you. I don't hate the guy. I just didn't see him as so but like I said, I wasn't having under a blanket half the time. So if they weren't making flashy moves, wasn't seeing you.
Kara
15:34
So did you see anything that you noticed that we definitely need to improve everything? No, we definitely need to improve on the chemistry. Like you said, the chemistry was there, but then it was not there. It was there the week before, but it was not there. I don't know. It was tough.
Bridget
15:51
They couldn't find their groove, so we need to get our groove back. I don't know what that is, but I think that there's potential there. There was a lot of good potential seeing them pass if they could just make those shots. And we had a lot of didn't we have some shots on goal? Yeah, we had some shots. So at least we're taking
Kara
16:06
shots. We did pretty well at shots. Yeah. So we're at least taking shots now. If we could just focus on getting them in, that would be blessing. I do think the chemistry needs to get there a little bit more, but I think it's getting there. I like having Swedarski as the nine. I think he works well with Camille on the outside. Bed bye.
Bridget
16:24
I think the midfield's getting a little better gradually and the defense is just hit or miss. It just is hit or miss, it just is.
Kara
16:31
Yeah. I thought our chemistry last game was really bad with Kurzazul, but this one was an improvement. It just because we had a lot more shots, we had more chances, we had better connections than we had been, and there wasn't as much silly missing. There was a bunch of midfield, the ball, but there didn't seem to be a lack of chemistry as much as Crucifyl. However, I think the finishing in the final third was really the problem. And when Brecht came in, we can't expect him to come up to the run of the match and the chemistry as much as our players who've been here forever. He's just got here. He'd been with us maybe three days or so when he played that match. And so I'm sure he trained with us, but that does not mean he's match fit to the best of his ability, and not only that, to the chemistry of the players around him. And so when he came in, I thought I was glad to see him get that debut for the crown. But I think there was always going to be a little bit of a lack and discombobulation with that chemistry and those connections in that moment. However, you could tell that man's got moves. Do you remember that when he had that attempt where he was doing a very fancy dribble and I wish he would have gotten it off or passed it or something and then we could have scored. I don't know. He had a very good attempt that they didn't actually show in the highlights. Greg
Bridget
17:58
did really well. He came out and I didn't know that he was number ten. I don't think a lot of us knew that he was number ten, but he came out, we were like, oh, my God, we got a number ten. And I thought he was making moves. For him to be out there for just about five minutes, he was a little bit longer than that. Like, he had a really good shot. He just wasn't right or he was going to. He just couldn't get his footing right. But he was, like, actually trying. He was being aggressive. We need that on our team. And I like it.
Kara
18:25
He played like 40 minutes, which is pretty good. I mean, he does need minutes to kind of get warmed up with people.
Bridget
18:32
Yeah, well, hiding under the blankets. Four minutes, five minutes. I really only saw him when I was out of the blanket, which was the last five to ten minutes. I'm just kidding. I saw him more. But
Kara
18:42
I think we should expect, honestly, Christian Latonzio to do the same thing tomorrow that he has done with our field and pull him out at the 60 be and put the
Bridget
18:57
who knows, who knows what latonza is going to do tomorrow? Who's your wrath, Kara? Who is your wrath? Pull it out.
Kara
19:05
This one is painful because I think it's going to be a big hole tomorrow as well, and obvious. And we're all going to go we're going to make terrible grimaces and faces when it happens tomorrow or happens at the game on Friday. So if you notice in Houston, they were drawing us pretty wide and then they would go through those inside space misses and progress the ball quickly upfield. And so it was so easy for Houston to just poke holes right through our field of men and get the ball to our end of the pitch when it was the complete opposite for the crown because there was Houston's pressing and their work rate was pretty high. And in that heat, oh, it was just exhausting. They were just trying to exhaust us quite a bit. And I really think that those spaces are going to be just torn to bits, potentially by Miami and Messi if we don't close them down, because we know that they work better at utilizing inside spaces than the outside. I think. I think it's something you've got to acknowledge and you've got to improve on for tomorrow. And I think that can only lie with Christian Latonzio because I feel like the coaching staff at Houston really knew what to do to get through us. And so they had better chances, quicker chances, even though we overall had more. That's scary.
Bridget
20:40
Yeah, Christian Latonza has got a lot to do. A lot to do. But you know how he likes to make he likes to do all these wild tactics none of us understand. You know what? Tomorrow night, we need to throw every tactic. Mean, Latonja, you go balls to the walls with your tactics, like throw them out. Do what you got to do. Come up with the tactics of the tactics, because whatever he's got now is not going to work against Miami. But then again, not many tactics as any of these teams have done have worked against Miami. So you know what? Come on, strategy maker, laddie, let's go. Let's put you to the test. This is your biggest test, Laddie. Come up with some good strategies for us.
Kara
21:20
So as we go into Miami and are looking to look at this match, bridget, what do you think? 2s What do we got to do? What are we going to see? I don't
Bridget
21:31
know. 1s I think that we might struggle bus it really badly, but I'm hoping not. I hope that the guys go out there and aren't intimidated by being on the same pitch with lionel messi and biscuits and all them great time people that are out there or Taylor. I mean, heck, shoot, they're playing with all the greats and I hope they just don't get intimidated by I know westwood won't and I know that carol doesn't give two craps probably about it, but I feel like the older guys aren't going to have as much intimidation factor as the younger guys are. And so I just hope they go out there and they show them up and we win this game by some miracle and then we can just show face for the rest of the weekend.
Kara
22:14
Yeah. We do know that carol faced messi with poland versus argentina in this last world cup, so we've already seen that. And he had a pretty great picture of him in a header against, you know, he's going to play his game whether messi's out there or not. And brecht also played against messi with so he's he's seen it before and so I think that's probably going to be like, man, it's fine in our field. I think our field will be similar just based on. 2s He just is kind of a chill guy. But it'll be really down to our midfield to shut that down and then everyone else needs to step up their defense. Vargas did not have a great game on defense, even though he did on offense this last game. It didn't end up to mean anything as far as results, but I really thought his offense and creativity and attempts happened. But he's got to get back there on defense. He's got to get more like ushriak and shutting crap down, because I think that's one of the reasons why they were able to get something through and let anzio wants his guys to be better at defense and to really bring their A game in both places. And so we've got to step up on that defense with this because we know there's a lot more than just one dangerous player.
Bridget
23:36
So do you use DJ or bronco?
Kara
23:38
I don't know that Jay is at 100%. Based on what we've seen, he only got about ten minutes played for us, or maybe like, not even this last game. And before he had maybe 30 ish. 1s So I think Bronco's going to have to come in and I think he's going to have to play his freedom, but play his freedom around Messi. And then it'll be up to Westwood and our field to also be wise to those attempts. And once DJ comes in, hopefully we'll have a better chance of really controlling the ball and protecting the ball from those options because we know he's better at that role than some of our other guys. That midfield is really got to be key. They've really got to step up their game and we've got to see what diagra is all about at this too. He's a number ten. He's wearing the number ten just like Messi. And we know they're not the same quality of number ten. We know that Brecht is more of a he'll set up the younger players, the other players, to do what they need to do as opposed to take really talented shots himself, whereas Messi can probably do both.
Bridget
24:45
And Breck's not going to cheat like Messi did. So whatever. Yes. And I'm talking about messi cheating. And if you haven't seen it, you need to go back on that penalty kick, which shouldn't have got anyway at the end of the game, but whatever. Because that penalty was not called on us when we had that happen to us, but yet it happened to Messi. So we get a call on him and if you watch him, he moves the freaking ball 2ft forward, at least 2ft forward, and that gets him the angle. So we're going to watch for that and pray to gosh we do not give him a penalty in that freaking
Kara
25:13
box. Yeah. I wouldn't go into this game expecting that our luck from Houston is going to carry us into Miami.
Bridget
25:22
I don't think Ongo is going to show up. I think Ongo decided that he's taking a vacay because I don't see that one happening. But you never know. He
Kara
25:29
showed up at the last Miami Dallas game. That was very impressive.
Bridget
25:34
Well, that's true too. He might show up again. Double
Kara
25:37
for one for either side. He was an equal opportunity player at that match. Yes. Well, he owes us a couple more, so hopefully he'll work for us. I don't know. I'm really scared about it. Like I'm excited about the game because this will be our biggest stage that we've played on. I really feel like, I mean, all eyes will be on our team tomorrow night, like around the world. That's terrifying.
Bridget
25:56
So it's either like we're going embarrass the crap out of ourselves, which I don't see, hopefully, please don't do that. Or we're going to at least hold our own. You know what I'm saying? Like if we lose and we're holding our own, I'll still be pissed, but at least we'll have held our own. But if we go out there and act like a fool and don't know what we're doing, then I'm going to definitely won't be happy with that. But I really think we could win if we just don't act stupid. Because, I mean, think about it this way. They played dallas and we beat dallas by the hair but we beat dallas. And I think that dallas was going to beat them if he wasn't cheated.
Kara
26:30
Dallas played a very good match that game. Kudos to them. Even though it didn't work out in the end. Right.
Bridget
26:35
So I think it can be done. And how much better would it be if charlote FC. Does it? Like the team that no one gives us credit. Everyone's talking legit crap. That extra time. I just saw extra time with the MLS or whatever the mess they do. They just said that it's going to be a crap, it's going to be awful and that we're going to have nine goals shot on us. Kalina, please do not let nine goals in. And I swear to get five goals you need to just substitute and put somebody else in. But like nine goals? Come on, guys. We're not going to be that bad. And remember,
Kara
27:01
kalina and our goalkeepers have been training with that former us. Men's national team coach. 2s They've got really good talent. I don't think that's another person I don't think is going to be intimidated by messi is kalina. He just doesn't seem to me to be that kind of person. He might he might throw me all off and I could be crazy, but I just see him thinking messi's, some mess, you know, that he can stop it. Maybe. Maybe. We need to build these guys up for sure. So everybody send DMs out. Do what you got to do. Tell them they're going to win. Build their confidence like nobody's business,
Bridget
27:37
you know. Enzo, I told you enzo's mad. He's sitting at home pissed off because he can't go. 1s So enzo, hurry up and get back to complain. September, maybe. Yep. Yep. Sucks for enzo at this point because seeing this outcome I don't think would have been easily predicted because it just seems so wild. However, you know, I'm really looking forward to that. I can't wait to see because I was looking at miami and we've been watching a few of their games because it's on a different day. And how nice is it to have soccer on more than one day a week or, know, you can watch multiple of these games, right. Every night. Every
Kara
28:13
night. That's pretty great. So we've been doing that. However, I can't wait to see ben bender versus Benjia cremeshi because it's just like cremeshi is know, lil bender because he just seems so young, know, very talented. And I can't wait to see them two come up together. And he's got his floppy hair, too. I think they should have a photo
Bridget
28:37
op. I can't wait to see bender out there. Goodness gracious. I want to win so bad. I just want to win so bad. I just want messi to get a red card 2s and that's not going to happen. But wouldn't that be great? He's got a couple of yellows. That's what I'm saying. And that's the only reason I might want enzo out there. Except enzo would be know, carol can throw some fouls, though, and so can camille, so maybe he can act a fool and throw it down and get messy some yellows and get them out. It don't matter because they still have biscuits and all them other people's, but I still think we might do it. So I'm going to have faith in our team and I'm going to say that we are going to not embarrass ourselves.
Kara
29:18
And so we want everyone to be all in for the crown and facing against miami. And if this is where we end up, this is our league's cup ending, I feel like our guys are gonna they're gonna throw it down. So you might see a little, know, yellow card FC happen again if this is gonna be our last game and we're gonna try and give everything out there. So can't wait. That'd be great. It's going to be good. We're going to do it. We're all going to cheer and we're all going to lose our minds and we're
Bridget
29:49
all going to have a good time. So hopefully when we talk to you next time or you hear from us again, we'll be celebrating a
Kara
29:54
win. And if not, you might not hear from us for a couple days.
Bridget
29:58
You might not anyway. But anyway, have a great time and we shall talk to you after the miami charlote
Kara
30:05
game. Thank you for listening. Bye.